Repertory robbery

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by Craig Segal

Police say they've arrested two suspects in connection with recent robberies at the Cinéma du Parc on Parc Avenue, the Dunkin' Donuts across the street, and at the SAQ on St-Laurent and Prince Arthur. According to Sergeant Jean Archambault of Station 19, the men are not connected. One man robbed the non-profit repertory cinema twice in eight days, on August 26 and September 3. Another man robbed the Dunkin' Donuts and the SAQ September 4. "They're people who did it before," says Archambault. "You cannot control everything."

"I think the idea that you're putting a gun to a human being's face is disgusting," says Alex Wysocki Najar, who works in promotions and publicity at the cinema. "You start questioning all the people who come in." Wysocki Najar says staff is handling it well. "Everyone's fine. There were no freak-outs at all. Everyone's been really cool about it. It pissed everyone off more than anything."

"We're very disappointed that this happened," says Mark Brennan, director of corporate affairs at Ex-Centris, which owns the Cinéma du Parc. "We're really concerned that we have been affected by this societal problem, and we are confident that the SPCUM [Montreal police] will help resolve the issue."